What is a Monkey?

A monkey is a primate with long arms and legs that help them swing between trees in forest canopies. They are important part of their native habitats, pollinating flowers and spreading seeds as they travel. Monkeys are excellent communicators, using facial expressions and body movements to communicate. For example, when male proboscis monkeys raise their noses, it may look like a smile to us, but in a monkey it’s a signal of aggression or fear. Similarly, when monkeys yawn or jerk their heads and shoulders forward, it’s a show of aggression. They also use body posture to mark territory or announce important events, such as when a new group leader is selected.

Monkeys are intelligent and have a wide range of vocalizations, from barks and purrs to screams and peeps. Some, such as squirrel monkeys, have more than 25 different calls, while others, such as the deep howls of howler monkeys, can be heard up to 3 miles (5 kilometers) away.

Scientists classify monkeys into two broad groups: Old World monkeys, which live in Asia and Africa, and New World monkeys, which inhabit North America and South America. Old World monkeys, which include baboons, macaques, and mangabeys, have small, curved nostrils set close together. New World monkeys, which include spider monkeys and marmosets, have nostrils that are wider apart. Some Old World monkeys, including drill monkeys and apes, have sitting pads on their rumps, while New World monkeys don’t.

Most types of monkeys live in groups called troops, which are led by one or more adult males and usually include a number of females and their offspring. However, some species, such as the gray titi monkey and some marmosets, live in multimale, multifemale groups called harems.